Can Islam ostracize the terrorists?

There is a clear opportunity for Indonesian Muslims to fully ostracize the terror suspects from Islam as a religion. Some may consider that to be a delicate point, but many notable Muslims have openly said that people who have no God whatsoever carry out such acts of terrorism, like the Bali bombing.

In this respect the suspects will simply be tried as terrorists with no religion, or religious element attached at all. This will also send a clear message to other would-be terrorists that have designs on carrying out similar atrocities, that their religion, which they say is the driving force of their actions, in fact is disowning them altogether.

There has to be a clear distinction between good and evil, irrespective of compassion or other human feelings, and therefore the chosen road is simply down to the individual.

The so-called jihad is being offered by terrorists as the main reason for their actions; this coupled with the many injustices carried out historically and currently against Muslim people.

Of that there is little doubt, but to try to rectify this with horrendous violence is both futile and repulsive. Such a concept has created an image across the world that Islam is the religion of hate and violence, and so it is important that the criminal trials are handled in such a manner that there is a clear distinction between terrorism and Islam.

One way to do that is for those accused to stand in the dock on their own, with no religion or God in sight. Maybe this is a test of whether Muslims are prepared to come out into the open and publicly disown such people.

DAVID WALLIS

Medan, North Sumatra